Country Living Series

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

All together now: Awwwwwww

They say the best way to deal with the grief of losing a beloved dog is to get another dog as quickly as possible. So...

Meet my new puppy.

He's a four-week old Golden Retriever. Obviously he's way too young to leave his mama yet, but I'll take him home in four or five weeks.

All my life I've chosen large and stubborn dog breeds (Malamute, Pyrenees, Pyr crosses, etc.). This will be the first time I'll have a breed known for its easy training. It will also be the first time I've had a male dog (all our prior males were Don's dogs).

Don will be getting a Yellow Lab puppy in a few weeks as well, so we'll raise and train the dogs together. Right now the house is way, way too quiet without the happy activity of canine companions.

I'm on my 3rd golden and you had me laughing a bit about how 'easy' they are to train. My 2nd, a girl, was just a tad bit obstinate. She'd eventually come around but it took a lot of consistent training.I'm sure you'll do well.Hope your new guy is easy going. SJ in Vancouver BC

We have a Chewy (Chewbacca), Toby and Hank. Male dogs in the past have been Shadow, Flash, Cobb (short for John Cobbler, which is what happens when you let the kids name the dog), Oreo. Think that's it on the male dogs.

My grandson said that dog names should always have two (2)) syllables. He couldn't remember why, but I trust his judgement as his dogs have always been loving, obedient and extremely well mannered. So, with this in mind, and in memory of his predecessor, I will suggest "Lyndon".

Congratulations. A very good choice. Both Labs and Goldens are amazing. I had a male golden retriever. He was "Big Jake" after the John Wayne movie. He was the most loving and loyal dog so very special. Miss him everyday. Your puppy is adorable he will give you many years of wonderful.

We have a Golden/Lab/spaniel mix. Eager to please-- and INCREDIBLY energetic. She's two and a half years old now and I'm still waiting for the "puppy stupid" time to end. She always feels guilty when she disobeys-- also she is very intelligent and knows she's done wrong-- but she just can't seem to help herself.

We have a Winston. He is a pound puppy that is part anatolian and Pyrenees. A very agreeable and loving dog. In one of your post you described him to the tee. The name Winston describes him. Honorable, loyal and when he is playful he is Winnie the Pooh.

I like Biblical names....Our dog was Moses, our cats were Magdeline(Maggie), Hannah, Samuel and then thereis Saetia(definitely not a biblical name...I just had to have Samuel put down last month due to health...Moses and Maggie have been gone for 3 years...I'm really not healthy enough anymore to add new pets...so, when Hannah and Saetia die(they are both 15 years old), that's the end of pets for me. How about Ezra, Obadiah, or Boaz....Whatever you name him, it will be the strong perfect name and he will wear it well.He is adorable...Love from NC

I'm so happy for you and the family Patrice. He's just adorable. Looking forward to seeing what he gets up to (and I imagine that could be a lot while he's young lol.) We love our two labs and know you'll be blessed having him join your family. As for a name... well, our last male lab was called "Benji." Have fun deciding. Jenny

Sorry if I wasn't clear. We'll train the dogs the same as always, to have basic manners, to heel, stay, etc. Labs and Retrievers are just **easier** to train than Malamutes and Pyrs. And since we're getting puppies at about the same time, we'll each train our own dogs at the same time (together) and to learn the same things.

Thank you for your reply. On Sunday we put our elderly dog down. Late in the afternoon we looked at a little of pups but didn't get one (our daughter and her family was getting one so it would have been fun). I mentioned to my DH that I had asked you this question while we talked about what we wanted in a dog. Because we want slightly different things and I would be the one training it we decided to hold off. This year is taken up with my toddler grandson and his pups, who are at our house 50-60 hours a week. Next year, though... Brenda

Han or Obi... I have 2 young Goldens right now, both females. They're probably related to your pup since mine are from the Athol and Spokane areas. Best dogs I've ever had! Somewhat stubborn, but so affectionate, loving and crazy-intelligent! Now about the amount of dog hair in my house.... oh never mind about that. Enjoy those pups!

A home full of bounding puppies, chaos, joy, and lots of licking. A home blessed...The name River popped in my head even before I saw that you were asking for name suggestions. Now I might have to get a puppy just to name River...see what you have done! :)

Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets? Whatever you name them, do as my mother always advised: "When you decide on a name for a pet or a child, go to the back door and shout it at the top of your lungs for fifteen minutes straight, because that's how you're going to hear it for the next fifteen years."

Before you give the dog a name, step outside and yell the name. Like you were calling for the dog to come home. Find a name that rings true to your calling and true to the dog. There are some wonderful names mentioned, I'm tossing in Riley for the Golden Retriever and Rebel for the Lab.

My friend always comes up with good names but says that knowing their personality helps in the naming process. Tundra and Rex seemed like good stable ones. One last note, I am sure you took the photo of those enormous paws to show what they will be, and that is very large dogs. Nothing like a puppy to bring new life to a home. Just recently lost my Toby, a Lab/Anatolian mix those puppy photos reminds me of him.

I too , always wait a bit to see what their personality is before naming them . Your new boy is sure a handsome lad! If his paws are any indication of his future size, he will be a big boy. Good luck with picking a name.. lots of good suggestions on here.

You are going to love having a golden. They are the best. Eager to please and easy to train. Prepare yourself to have a shadow. As in when you stop walking suddenly, you get a wet nose on the back of your leg. They want to be near you all of the time. Always in sight and preferably in touching distance.

Might want to take a look at Littermate Syndrome since you are getting two pups at about the same time. They can become co-dependent and that leads to a lot of issues. Goldens are such wonderful pups though. You are going to have a lot of fun with the new little one.

Absolutely agree, CathyGo! We had a beloved dog die and decided, because of our sons, to get another dog right away. We got a black Lab but also wanted a smaller dog and found a tiny little Brug. Unfortunately Labs are not easy to train when the dominant male dog (our Brug in this case) calls all the shots.

I have a friend who got two Lab littermates, and they were untranable as well. Babies growing up together listen and pay attention to each other, not to their humans. She had to get rid of one of them, and it all ended in a sad situation.

Better to get one dog first and let it get to be at least one year old and then get another puppy. You will be way less frustrated.

Our neighbors will forever be the "No Tobies" since that's all we hear yelled from their back yard; "No, Toby! Toby, no!!!" We joke that the dog must think his name is "No Toby"

I've been thinking of naming my new horse Ebeneezer (rock of remembrance or rock of help) and calling him "Ben" for short. I just love the line from the hymn, "Here I raise my ebeneezer, hither by Thy help I come."

Enjoy your new little ones, whatever you and Don decide to name them. Your house won't be quiet for long!

Yes, absolutely true! You will be fortunate indeed if they don't conspire against you. And even in pairs, ours chewed up - and still do three years later - everything. They're sweet and lvovable in pairs, but they will not listen to you; they will look to each other and develop very bad habits. Our two even failed obedience training.

Yes, absolutely true! You will be fortunate indeed if they don't conspire against you. And even in pairs, ours chewed up - and still do three years later - everything. They're sweet and lvovable in pairs, but they will not listen to you; they will look to each other and develop very bad habits. Our two even failed obedience training.

We have two litter mates along with their mom .. apart from the normal chewing and other puppy antics we have had no problem with training them , both listen to us and obey commands . They do however compete for our affection , if ones getting petted the other is right there to get their fair share . Maybe we are the exception to the rule or maybe it's how they are being raised . I just know that they were both raised with lots of love and praise , something you and Don will undoubtedly give them.

We love our golden Kashmir. Several have commented about two syllable names. Agree. Easier to shorten when you need/want to. Very easy to train. We took Kashmir to the door once for trip to the backyard and never had to do it again. Not saying there wasn't an accident or two, but that was more our fault than hers. Make sure there are toys available for her to grab as a way of greeting when you come in the door. We have heard this a trait of Goldens.

Would of thought a Border Collie, especially since your last post spoke of making things easier. At our age and farm duty requirements. Retrievers don't make good farm dogs. Tennis Ball Porch Dogs at best. Collies will watch the farm any time your away.

Cute! can't help with names, For example: wife wanted me to pick out some names for our daughter back in 1999, knowing it was to be a girl and mom's wishes for Christian names, I picked Noah Peter. Her brother a two years later was Gotta Peter. Our honey business, wife again said I needed to pick a name, Flying Bitch Spit. Wife says I'm grounded from picking anymore names. In fun and love always..